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Develop, in detail, a situation in which a health care worker might be confronted with ethical problems related to patients and prescription drug use OR patients in a state of poverty. Your scenario must be original to you and this assignment. It cannot be from the discussion boards in this class or any other previous forum. Articulate (and then assess) the ethical solutions that can be found using "care" (care-based ethics) and "rights" ethics to those problems. Assessment must ask if the solutions are flawed, practicable, persuasive, etc.

What health care technology is involved in the situation? What moral guidelines for using that kind of healthcare technology should be used there? Explore such guidelines also using utilitarianism, Kantian deontology, ethical egoism, or social contract ethics. Say how social technologies such as blogs, crowdfunding, online encyclopedias can be used in either case. What moral guidelines for using that kind of healthcare technology should be used there? Develop such guidelines also using utilitarianism, Kantian deontology, ethical egoism, or social contract ethics. You should not be using any text you used in a discussion board or assignment for this class or any previous class. Cite the textbook and incorporate outside sources, including citations.

Paper For Above instruction

In the complex landscape of healthcare ethics, practitioners often face difficult decisions that require balancing the rights of patients with their own moral obligations. This paper explores an original scenario involving a healthcare worker confronted with ethical dilemmas related to patients in poverty, the use of prescription drugs, and the role of healthcare technology. The discussion evaluates ethical solutions through care-based ethics and rights ethics, investigates appropriate moral guidelines under various ethical theories, and considers the impact of social technology tools.

Scenario Description

Imagine a community health clinic serving a predominantly low-income population. A nurse, Maria, encounters a patient, Mr. Lewis, a middle-aged man battling chronic illnesses but unable to afford the prescribed medication due to financial constraints. The clinic has limited resources, and there is a debate whether to provide Mr. Lewis with a less effective, more affordable generic medication or to risk his declining health by denying medication altogether. Furthermore, the clinic has recently started implementing telehealth services, including online platforms for patient follow-up and health education, raising questions about technology utilization in ethically complex situations.

Ethical Problems Identified

  • Balancing the patient's right to receive adequate healthcare versus resource limitations.
  • Ensuring equitable access to essential medications for impoverished patients.
  • Deciding whether to prioritize individual patient needs or the broader community health benefits.
  • Ethical concerns surrounding the use of telehealth and digital technologies in vulnerable populations.

Care-Based Ethics Analysis

From a care ethics perspective, Maria's primary obligation is to cultivate a relationship of trust and compassion with Mr. Lewis. This approach emphasizes empathetic understanding and responsiveness to the patient's needs. By actively listening, Maria can assess Mr. Lewis’s concerns and preferences, fostering a caring environment. The ethical solution involves providing the most effective medication that the patient can afford or seeking community resources to subsidize costs, thus embodying compassion and relational responsibility.

However, care ethics also recognizes the limitations of individual actions within systemic constraints. While Maria's compassion guides her in individual decision-making, systemic issues like medication affordability and resource scarcity must be addressed at higher levels. The care approach criticizes any action that neglects the relational context and marginalizes vulnerable populations, striving for a community-centric solution.

Rights-Based Ethics Analysis

Rights ethics focuses on respecting Mr. Lewis's right to health and access to essential medication. According to this framework, denying him treatment based solely on financial status infringes on his basic rights, which should be protected regardless of economic status. The healthcare worker's obligation is to advocate for equitable access, perhaps by leveraging institutional resources or pursuing assistance programs, to uphold the patient's rights.

Yet, this approach faces challenges when institutional or systemic resource constraints limit options. Upholding individual rights must be balanced against the rights of the broader patient population, raising questions about distributive justice. The solution may involve policy advocacy to ensure systemic fairness, but immediate clinical decisions might be constrained by resource availability.

Evaluating Ethical Solutions

Both care ethics and rights ethics offer valuable guidance but also face limitations. Care ethics emphasizes empathy and relationship-building, fostering trust and personalized care, yet it might lack systemic influence. Rights ethics champion justice and individual dignity but can be hindered by resource deficits and systemic inequalities. A combined approach, integrating compassion with advocacy for systemic change, offers a more comprehensive ethical response.

Healthcare Technology and Moral Guidelines

The involvement of telehealth in this scenario introduces additional moral considerations. Telehealth can extend access, especially for underserved populations, but raises concerns about privacy, digital literacy, and equitable access to technology. Moral guidelines should stipulate that telehealth services respect patient confidentiality, are accessible irrespective of socioeconomic status, and complement rather than replace in-person care.

Applying ethical frameworks:

  • Utilitarianism: Maximize overall well-being by ensuring equitable access to telehealth resources, reducing disparities, and improving health outcomes.
  • Kantian Deontology: Uphold the moral duty to treat all patients as ends in themselves, ensuring respect and dignity in digital interactions.
  • Ethical Egoism: Healthcare providers act in their own best interest by adopting responsible tech use that sustains trust and professional integrity.
  • Social Contract Ethics: Establish societal agreements that promote fair access to healthcare technology and protect vulnerable groups' rights.

Social technologies such as blogs, crowdfunding platforms, and online encyclopedias can be powerful tools to address such ethical dilemmas. For example, crowdfunding can raise funds for medication assistance, blogs can educate the community about health rights, and online resources can inform patients about their options. Ethical guidelines for using these tools should emphasize transparency, respect for patient privacy, and equitable access.

Guidelines for Using Healthcare Technologies

  • Ensure digital literacy and access for vulnerable populations to prevent technological disparities.
  • Maintain rigorous privacy protections when sharing health information online.
  • Leverage social media and digital platforms responsibly to advocate for systemic reforms and community engagement.
  • Align technology use with the principles of beneficence, justice, and respect for autonomy.

Conclusion

Navigating ethical dilemmas in healthcare requires a nuanced understanding of both individual and systemic factors. Combining care ethics and rights ethics provides a balanced approach to addressing patients' needs amid resource limitations. The integration of healthcare technology, guided by ethical principles, has the potential to improve equity and access but demands careful regulation. Ultimately, fostering compassionate relationships, respecting patient rights, and utilizing social technologies responsibly can promote ethically sound healthcare practices in impoverished settings.

References

  • Beauchamp, T. L., & Childress, J. F. (2019). Principles of Biomedical Ethics (8th ed.). Oxford University Press.
  • Held, V. (2006). The Ethics of Care: Personal, Political, and Global. Oxford University Press.
  • Childress, J. F., & Siegler, M. (2019). Medical Ethics (7th ed.). Oxford University Press.
  • Wakefield, J. C. (2020). Healthcare Ethics and Technology. Journal of Medical Ethics, 46(3), 191-197.
  • Resnik, D. B. (2019). Ethical dilemmas in health technology assessment. Science and Engineering Ethics, 25(4), 1245-1257.
  • Danis, M., & Sader, S. (2018). Ethical Challenges in Telehealth. Telemedicine and e-Health, 24(9), 686-689.
  • Sharon, T. (2016). Digital health and social justice. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 18(9), e255.
  • Thompson, A. (2021). Crowdfunding in healthcare: Opportunities and ethics. Bioethics, 35(2), 132-138.
  • Anderson, R. M., & Funnell, M. M. (2018). Patient empowerment: Myths and misconceptions. Patient Education and Counseling, 71(3), 283-285.
  • Li, S. (2017). Technology and healthcare disparities. Technology in Society, 49, 147-150.